Ball game and board set

ABSTRACT

A ball and game board set includes a pair of identically shaped and sized game boards each comprising a frame member that supports a front playing surface and a bottom playing surface having a plurality of specifically shaped and sized apertures. Each of the game boards include a leg assembly that transitions between a closed orientation and an open orientation. The game set also includes a plurality of game balls, a pair of flat rings and an instruction set.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to games of skill, and moreparticularly to a kicking game with a set of spaced apart scoring boxes.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Physical games remain popular due to their active nature and relativelylow cost when compared to other forms of entertainment such aselectronic games, for example. Among the many appealing aspects of thesegames is the combination of elements such as luck, skill, and/orstrategy, for example, thereby providing a source of interest andexcitement. Physical games also tend to promote social interaction,particularly amongst family members, which is desirable especially giventhe busy lifestyle that most people lead and the need to find ways tospend quality family time together.

Although there are a large number of known games involving scoring zonesand balls, the present invention differs from such games in a number ofaspects. The manner by which will become more apparent in thedescription which follows, particularly when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a ball and game board set. Oneembodiment of the present invention can include a pair of identicallyshaped and sized game boards which are designed to be placed a setdistance apart. Each of the game boards can include a frame member forsupporting a front playing surface and a bottom playing surface having aplurality of specifically shaped and sized apertures. Each of the gameboards can include a leg assembly that can transition between a closedorientation for storage and an open orientation for game play.

In one embodiment, the set can also include a plurality of game balls,each having a shape and size that are suitable for passing through theapertures, a pair of flat rings that are configured to be positioned adiscrete distance from each of the pair of game boards and to receiveone of the plurality of game balls, and an instruction set bearingdirections for playing a game.

In one embodiment, the plurality of apertures include five aperturesthat are each assigned a scoring value. A net can be disposed along theback side of the game boards, and connection hardware align and storethe game boards together forming a cavity for receiving and storing theplurality of balls and rings when not in use.

This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not toidentify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should beappreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of one of the game boards of the ball game andboard set, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of one of the game boards of the ball game andboard set, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the game boards of the ball gameand board set, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the rear sides of the pair of game boards ofthe ball game and board set, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the pair of game boards in a joined position,in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features ofthe invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that theinvention will be better understood from a consideration of thedescription in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailedembodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, itis to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplaryof the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and asa representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriatelydetailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are notintended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandabledescription of the invention.

As described herein, the term “pivotally connected” shall be used todescribe a situation wherein two or more identified objects are joinedtogether in a manner that allows one or both of the objects to pivot,and/or rotate about or in relation to the other object in either ahorizontal or vertical manner. Several nonlimiting examples ofconnectors for pivotally connecting objects together include traditionalsingle hinge mechanisms, ball joint couplers, and/or swivel flanges, forexample.

As described herein, the term “removably secured” and derivativesthereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or moreobjects are joined together in a non-permanent manner so as to allow thesame objects to be repeatedly joined and separated. This can beaccomplished through the use of any number of commercially availableconnectors such as various bar latches, elbow latches, cabinet doorlatches, opposing strips of hook and loop material (i.e. Velcro®),magnets, and/or compression fittings such as locking pins, clamps, orsnaps, for example.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate one embodiment of a ball game and board set thatare useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Ineach of the drawings, identical reference numerals are used for likeelements of the invention or elements of like function. For the sake ofclarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individualfigures which are necessary for the description of the respectivefigure. For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,”“right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the set can include a pair of substantiallyidentical game boards 10 and 20, each having a rigid frame member 11 forsupporting an upper playing surface 12, and a bottom playing surface 13.The frame members can include carrying handles 14 and optional drinkholders 17. The playing surface can include a plurality of apertures ofvarious shapes and sizes for use during game play. As will be describedbelow, each of the apertures can correspond to particular scoring zoneswhen playing the game.

In the preferred embodiment, the playing surface can include a firstaperture 15 a located in the upper left corner of the playing surface, asecond aperture 15 b located in the upper right corner of the playingsurface, a third aperture 15 c located in the lower left corner of theplaying surface, a fourth aperture 15 d located in the lower rightcorner of the playing surface, and a fifth aperture 15 e located in thelower center of the playing surface.

In this regard, apertures 15 a-15 d can each comprise a generally pieshaped wedge and/or circular sector shape, with apertures 15 b and 15 dhaving a mirror image orientation to apertures 15 a and 15 c,respectively. Additionally, aperture 15 e can include a generallyhorseshoe shape.

As shown best in FIG. 2, each of the game boards can include a legassembly comprising a pair of legs 21 having an upper support brace 22and a lower support brace 23 extending therebetween. Each of the legs 21can be pivotally connected 24 to the inside portion of the frame 11 viaa dowel and groove arrangement, for example, so as to allow the legassembly to transition between an open orientation and a closedorientation.

In the closed orientation, the leg assembly can be positioned againstthe bottom playing surface, so as to rest within the void beside theframe. Conversely, in the open orientation the legs can extend outwardfrom the playing surface so as to orient the playing surface at anapproximate 80 degree angle to the ground. Of course, the leg segmentscan also position the playing surface at any number of other angles.

As shown in FIG. 3, one or more nets 31 can be secured between the topof the frame 11 and the upper support brace 22. During game play, thenets can function to ensure any balls passing through scoring zones 15 aand 15 b are captured and dropped to the ground for reuse. Likewise, theshape and size of the lower support member 21 is designed to perform thesame function for balls passing through scoring zones 15 c-15 e;however, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the one or more netsextend downward to also engage the lower support member.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the game boards 10 and 20 can include aplurality of connectors 41 along the sides of the frame 11, so as toallow the boards to be removably secured together. When so positioned,the additional game components e.g., balls 5 and placement dots 6 can besecured within the connected boards for transport and storage.

In the preferred embodiment, the set can include four small soccer-styleballs 5 and a pair of flat rings 6 which function as ball placementdots. The set can also include written instructions for playing a gamecalled “foot goal,” described below.

A method for playing foot goal utilizing the above described setcomponents can include the steps of extending the legs and positioningthe boards 10 and 20 approximately 16 feet apart with the front surfaces12 facing each other. When so positioned, the flat placement dots 6 canbe placed two feet in front of each goal, and teams can alternatekicking the balls 5 from the placement dots toward the opposing teamsboard.

Each team can include 2-8 players who take turns kicking the balls 5into the score zones 15 a-15 e. Score zone 15 e can be worth 1 pointbecause it is the easiest target to score. Score zones 15 c and 15 d canbe worth 2 points because it is harder to score compared to the centerzone, and score zones 15 a and 15 b can be worth 3 points because theseare the most difficult zone to hit.

To start the game, one team will kick first and the other team willdefend. Once the decision is made, each team must assign the order whicheach player will kick. The first player to kick must score in one of thefive score zones. The player can choose to score in any of the 5 scorezones. Once the player shoots, it will be the next teams turn and so on.Scores from the first half will be added with the scores from the secondhalf. If there is a tie, each player will take turns shooting into the 1point scoring zone. The first player to miss loses.

Owing to the above noted rules, dimensions of the game boards arecritical. In the preferred embodiment, the frame 11 of each game boardcan include a height of 2 feet and a width of 3 feet. Scoring zones 15a-15 d can each include dimensions of 9″×9″ and scoring zone 15 e caninclude an opening having a radius of approximately 10 inches (e.g., thesemi-circular shape has an opening spanning 4.5). Likewise, each of thegame balls 5 will preferably comprise 5-6″ diameter soccer-style balls.

In the preferred embodiment, the lower support brace can include aheight/width of 10 inches. By providing a height that is at least astall as the height of the tallest bottom aperture(s) of the game board,e.g., 15 e, the support structure of the leg assembly serves the dualpurpose of supporting the folding legs as described above and acting tostop any balls passing through the lower apertures from escaping,thereby slowing game play.

Moreover, because the game board is oriented 80 degrees relative to theground during play, any balls that pass through the upper apertures andare engaged by the net will fall downward to rest between the bottomplaying surface 13 and the lower support member 23, thereby ensuringplayers do not have to chase balls that are scored in any of theapertures 15 a-15 e.

As described herein, one or more elements of the set comprising the gameboards can be secured together utilizing any number of known attachmentmeans such as, for example, screws, glue, compression fittings andwelds, among others. Moreover, although the above embodiments have beendescribed as including separate individual elements, the inventiveconcepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, one of skillin the art will recognize that one or more individually identifiedelements may be formed together as one or more continuous elements,either through manufacturing processes, such as welding, casting, ormolding, or through the use of a singular piece of material milled ormachined with the aforementioned components forming identifiablesections thereof.

Although described above as including specifically sized balls for usewith the game boards, this is but one preferred embodiment. To this end,other embodiments are contemplated wherein any number of differentshaped balls or objects can be utilized with the game boards. Severalnonlimiting examples include baseballs, footballs, hockey pucks and/orgolf balls, for example.

As to a further description of the manner and use of the presentinvention, the same should be apparent from the above description.Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage andoperation will be provided.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. Likewise, the term “consisting” shallbe used to describe only those components identified. In each instancewhere a device comprises certain elements, it will inherently consist ofeach of those identified elements as well.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1. A ball and game board set, comprising: a pair of game boards, eachhaving a frame member for positioning on a ground, a front playingsurface, a bottom playing surface, a leg assembly, and a plurality ofapertures that extend through the front playing surface and the bottomplaying surface, wherein a first aperture in the plurality of aperturesis located in an upper left corner of the front playing surface, whereina second aperture in the plurality of apertures is located in an upperright corner of the front playing surface, wherein a third aperture inthe plurality of apertures is located in a lower left corner of thefront playing surface and is open to the ground, wherein a fourthaperture in the plurality of apertures is located in a lower rightcorner of the front playing surface and is open to the ground, wherein afifth aperture in the plurality of apertures is located between thethird aperture and the fourth aperture and is open to the ground; aplurality of game balls, each of the game balls having a shape and sizethat are suitable for passing through each of the plurality ofapertures; a pair of flat rings that are configured to be positioned adiscrete distance from each of the pair of game boards and to receiveone of the plurality of game balls; and an instruction set bearingdirections for playing a game utilizing the pair of game boards, theplurality of balls and pair of flat rings.
 2. The set of claim 1,further comprising at least one net that is disposed along the bottomplaying surface and is positioned to cover one of the plurality ofapertures.
 3. The set of claim 1, wherein the leg assembly includes apair of folding legs that are configured to transition between a closedorientation wherein a major axis of the legs are in contact with thebottom playing surface, and an open orientation wherein the major axisof the pair of legs extend outward and position the front playingsurface of the game board to which they are attached at an 80 degreeangle to the ground.
 4. The set of claim 3, wherein the leg assemblyfurther includes an upper support brace and a lower support brace thatare positioned between the pair of folding legs.
 5. The set of claim 4,further comprising: a net that is connected between a top surface of theframe and the upper support brace, said net being configured to cover atleast one of the plurality of apertures.
 6. The set of claim 4, furthercomprising: a pair of nets that are connected between a top surface ofthe frame and the upper support brace, said nets each being configuredto cover one of the plurality of apertures.
 7. The set of claim 1,further comprising: a pair of beverage holders in the form of twocylindrical indentations that are positioned on a top surface of theframe.
 8. The set of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, thirdand fourth apertures of the plurality of apertures are generally pieshaped wedge.
 9. The set of claim 1, wherein the first aperture has amirror image orientation to the second aperture.
 10. The set of claim 1,wherein the third aperture has a mirror image orientation to the fourthaperture.
 11. The set of claim 1, wherein the fifth aperture isgenerally horseshoe shaped.
 12. The set of claim 1, wherein each of thegame boards comprises a height of 2 feet and a width of 3 feet.
 13. Theset of claim 12, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourthapertures of the plurality of apertures comprise a dimension of 9 inchesby 9 inches.
 14. The set of claim 13, wherein the fifth aperture of theplurality of apertures comprises a dimension of approximately 10 inches.15. The set of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of game balls 5comprise a diameter of between 5 and 6 inches.
 16. A ball and game boardset, consisting of: a pair of game boards, each having a frame memberfor positioning on a ground, a front playing surface, a bottom playingsurface, a leg assembly, and a plurality of apertures that extendthrough the front playing surface and the bottom playing surface,wherein a first aperture in the plurality of apertures is located in anupper left corner of the front playing surface, wherein a secondaperture in the plurality of apertures is located in an upper rightcorner of the front playing surface, wherein a third aperture in theplurality of apertures is located in a lower left corner of the frontplaying surface and is open to the ground, wherein a fourth aperture inthe plurality of apertures is located in a lower right corner of thefront playing surface and is open to the ground, wherein a fifthaperture in the plurality of apertures is located between the thirdaperture and the fourth aperture and is open to the ground; a pluralityof game balls, each of the game balls having a shape and size that aresuitable for passing through each of the plurality of apertures; a pairof flat rings that are configured to be positioned a discrete distancefrom each of the pair of game boards and to receive one of the pluralityof game balls; and an instruction set bearing directions for playing agame utilizing the pair of game boards, the plurality of balls and pairof flat rings.